Bridgetown, October 21, 2026 - Yemi Knight, Founder and Executive Director of AnchorBridge Environmental Inc. (ABE), has been named one of three recipients of the Irene Dankelman Young Ecofeminist Award, presented during COP17 held in Yerevan, Armenia on October 21, 2026. This award honors the young Barbadian’s leadership and contributions to environmental justice and community empowerment that connects environmental protection with human rights.
The Irene Dankelman Young Ecofeminist Award was launched in 2024 by Women Engage for Common Future (WECF), the Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO), the International Union for Conservation of Nature Netherlands National Committee of the Netherlands (IUCN NL), and Both ENDS, in memoriam of the late Irene Dankelman, who was a pioneer in connecting gender justice and climate/biodiversity, and who mentored young environmental activists. This award recognizes amazing young people working at the intersection of climate/environmental justice and gender, promoting rights, locally-led solutions and strengthening communities to have control over their lives and lands. Conferred biennially, the honor marks the first time a Caribbean advocate has been selected. As one of three awardees, Knight’s recognition highlights the vital impact of Caribbean civil society in driving climate justice and underscores the necessity of supporting community-led initiatives.
Knight grew up in The Pine and attended Wilkie Cumberbatch Primary School and Comberemere School before securing an athletic scholarship to complete a BSc in Environment and Society at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Returning to Barbados in 2020, Knight launched their environmental advocacy career by addressing access to clean water in rural communities in northern Barbados. They initiated the Bajan Water Project to advocate for improved transparency and accountability from the Barbados Water Authority and related regulatory bodies, ultimately establishing AnchorBridge Environmental Inc.
Under Knight’s leadership AnchorBridge Environmental has achieved remarkable milestones, playing a key role in Barbados’ constitutional reform process as well as its Second Nationally Determined Contribution. Notably, research conducted by ABE was cited by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights within its landmark 2025 Advisory Opinion on the Climate Emergency and Human Rights. Prepared for the International Organization for Migration, this study evaluated gaps in disaster evacuation planning for LGBTQ+ communities across 13 Caribbean nations. The Court leveraged these insights and recommendations to clarify state obligations regarding non-discriminatory healthcare and secure emergency shelters, demonstrating how localized research from a small Caribbean organization can influence global human rights frameworks and advance inclusive climate justice.
The organisation's journey, from volunteer-supported water testing to research recognised by an international human rights court, demonstrates the potential of community-led environmental action to influence decisions far beyond the communities where that work begins.
“I chose to come back to Barbados because I did not want to exist in a world where marginalised people were not supported in getting where they need to be and being protected. The people I work with in my organisation and in our coalitions take great risks, but we believe our communities have the knowledge, the capacity, and the determination to create change when we come together. I am deeply honoured to be among this year's award recipients, and I share this recognition with the volunteers, communities, and partners who have made this work possible,” Yemi Knight shared in their acceptance speech.
For Knight and ABE, the award is both a recognition of the journey so far and an opportunity to strengthen the organisation's work in Barbados and across the Caribbean.
ABE remains committed to supporting emerging environmental leaders, strengthening community-led advocacy and contributing to policies and practices that protect people and the environment.
About AnchorBridge Environmental Inc.
AnchorBridge Environmental Inc. (ABE) is a non-profit organization dedicated to environmental justice, advocacy and education in Barbados and the Caribbean since its inception in 2020. Our purpose is to champion the environmental health of communities, advocate for intergenerational justice, and enhance conservation education in young people, substantially building to the advancement of ecological justice across the island and the region at large.
Website: https://www.ab-environmental.org/
Media Contact:
Yemi Knight
AnchorBridge Environmental Inc.
Email: communications@ab-environmental.org
Website: www.ab-environmental.org
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